Police: 2 hurt crossing street in Atwater

Two people, including one in a wheelchair, suffered minor injuries after they were struck by a vehicle while crossing the street, Atwater police reported Thursday.

“It appears that (the pedestrians) were not using the crosswalk,” Lt. Samuel Joseph said of the incident, which occurred at 7:44 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said the driver “had no chance” to see them in the roadway.

A 50-year-old man was pushing a 50-year-old woman in a wheelchair near Bellevue Road and Brownell Street when they were struck by a 1997 Saturn driven by an 82-year-old man, police said in a news release.

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The driver of the Saturn was turning left from the 200 block of East Bellevue Road when his vehicle struck the pedestrians, police said. Both pedestrians were taken to an area hospital as a precaution. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police said they found open containers of alcohol that the pedestrians had been carrying, Joseph said. “It appeared they may have been drinking, but we do not believe they were intoxicated at the time of the incident,” he said.

Police said the pedestrians would be cited for crossing outside a designated crossing area. Investigators said the driver of the Saturn would not be charged.